Getting to know JJ Redick

We sat down with Coach JJ Redick to dig deeper into his thoughts on individual Lakers players, his plans to incorporate technology and analytics, the benefit of Pacific time for League Pass junkies, his self-imposed retirement from pick-up hoops and more:https://t.co/lARtVrje9B

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 10, 2024

MT: We all know how great Anthony Davis is as a rim protector. He also ranked 1st amongst all centers at contesting 3-pointers last season. Clearly, he can switch comfortably to guards and wings. What does that allow you to do defensively, and does all that he has to do on defense impact the other end?

Redick: I thought Anthony was in fantastic shape this year, and to me, he personally had a really good defensive season. He’s to me one of the five best defensive players in the NBA, full stop. I’d love to coach him when he gets a Defensive Player of the Year. I think he’s that level of defender. We have to be better as a team around him. In terms of schemes, it’s going to be collaborative with our coaching staff, collaborative when we game plan based on analytics and expected shot values about what we’re trying to do. He’s going to be featured on offense no matter what. He’s going to be featured. He’s going to have the ball. We’ve talked about him being an offensive hub for us. To me, everybody says, ‘Oh, Anthony Davis is great on offense but his real value is defensively.’ His real value is just being Anthony Davis, and the fact that he’s an elite two-way player.

MT: How do you approach this unique circumstance of coaching LeBron entering Year 22, totally unprecedented in NBA history, still performing at the level he is?

Redick: I think it works with communication. We’ve obviously talked this week since this whole thing happened. For me, what excites me beyond just coaching the Los Angeles Lakers is coaching Anthony Davis; player development – I think there are a number of young guys on this team that are excellent and can be stars in this league – but of course when you get to coach one of the greatest players ever, you take a lot of joy and pride and excitement in that, and it’s my job to help him in these last few innings of his career.

MT: Austin Reaves had this unique story of an undrafted player, who emerges as a key starter on a Western Conference Finals team, then excels for USA Basketball at the FIBA World Cup, then completes a full 82-game season and was perhaps feeling that full calendar on his legs. He was talking about being excited to have a full offseason to get stronger, get ready for next year. What have you seen from him and heard in the conversations you’ve had, and how key do you think he could end up being for you?

Redick: He’s excellent. I cannot wait to coach Austin. One of the reasons I can’t wait to coach him is because of his competitive spirit. He has a real mental toughness and competitive approach every single night. Him and I have talked, and I asked him about that actually, ‘Did you feel like you got tired at the end of the year,’ and he felt like he did. I think a big thing, partially in terms of how I want him to play in our offensive system, he’s gotta get in better condition, he’s gotta be able to move more, and based on our early conversations, he’s bought into that.

MT: Jarred Vanderbilt injured for most of last season, but he provides a certain level of athleticism and defense that maybe the team needs at times. Have you thought about how to utilize him, and Rui Hachimura, in some of those lineups where the Lakers could have success?

Redick: I have. I think the unique thing about Jarred, and a number of really good teams that made deep playoff runs have guys like him, that are energy, defense, ball hawks. He can sort of … I call them energy shifters. He can change the energy of an entire game, and he doesn’t have to do it with scoring, which makes him really unique. I can’t wait to coach him. Obviously he has some rehab to do for the rest of the summer, but when he’s healthy, he’s going to be a big part of what we do.

MT: Your production company – ThreeFourTwo Productions – is named after how many shots you’d make in a single workout. As someone that sometimes tries to make 50 at the gym, uh, 342 is a lot! It speaks something to your dedication and everything … so do you expect to challenge your players to shooting contests right away? And will your son challenge your players like he did Josh Hart, whom he beat?

Redick: I’m sure Knox will come in here and want to challenge certain guys to a 3-point shooting contest. It’s funny, when we think about building out our staff, a big part of player development and behind-the-bench guys, you gotta be able to be on the court. You gotta be able to, some days in practice, be there for light 5-on-5 stuff. Or 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 exercises. You need to be on the court … that’s not going to be me.